MPs slam 'Satanist' on public TV

PR dla Zagranicy

Peter Gentle
16.09.2011 08:41

The Parliamentary Commission for Culture and the Media has adopted a resolution condemning the board of TVP, Poland’s public television, for engaging Adam 'Nergal' Darski, lead singer and guitarist with the Behemoth death-metal band, in the ‘Voice of Poland’ talent show.

The resolution says that it receives the decision to retain the musician, called “evil” by conservative bishops, with ‘deep concern’ and describes “Nergal” as a “Satanist who publicly offends Christian values”.

The resolution comes after three of TVP's programming board called for Nergal's dismissal from the Voice of Poland show, though this was rejected by other members of the board.

In the MPs view, having Nergal as a juror in the talent show is ‘a negation of the essence of the broadcaster’s public mission and a flagrant violation of law’. The all-party Commission for Culture and the Media says in its resolution that “the current situation in Poland’s public television poses a serious threat to the country’s democratic order.”

Four years ago Nergal tore a Bible during a concert but a few weeks ago a court cleared him of offending religious feelings, arguing that the incident was a ‘form of art’.

The court verdict and the musician’s TV appearances have led to mounting protests from Polish bishops and the Association of Catholic Journalists. (mk)